GreenCast in UK and Ireland - Medallion TL approval brings new approach to disease control
The eagerly anticipated Syngenta Contact+ fungicide active for turf, Medallion TL, has gained approval for use by turf managers. Medallion TL not only targets disease pathogens on the leaf surface, but has the same effect on Fusarium disease spores in the thatch layer and the soil surface, according to Syngenta Technical Manager, Dr Simon Watson.
"Medallion TL will change the way we think about disease control, not only protecting from disease infection, but also reducing disease spore numbers and lowering the risk of further infection," he said. "That makes it incredibly effective in its primary role as an autumn and winter Contact+ treatment, but could also have a really valuable effect to prevent disease outbreaks triggered by spring and summer aeration or maintenance activities."
Dr Watson added that it is the additional activity in thatch and soil surface that gives Medallion TL its Contact+ credentials. "The disease threat is ever present in the thatch layer, with spores living on decaying material and roots and waiting for the right conditions to flare up. Medallion TL gives us a powerful new chance to stop that occurring."
An independent trial at Birch Grove Golf Club in Essex this year has demonstrated the exceptional long-lasting disease control with Medallion TL, even under very high disease pressure and testing conditions of prolonged snow cover. After a spray programme through late autumn and early winter, Medallion TL was still giving over 99.5% disease control when assessed at the end of February - over 100 days after the final application (above, right). Over 25% of the untreated turf area was affected by Fusarium, with serious implications for playing quality and recovery (above, left).
Dr Watson highlights that Medallion TL has an exciting new mode of action for turf that triggers treated disease spores to rapidly absorb water, to the point where they quite literally explode. "This happens so quickly there is no time for the spore to grow and infect the leaf, thus preventing damage to the surface and reducing subsequent threat.
Watch the video below to view Medallion TL and its explosive performance in action:
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"And since Medallion TL was bio-inspired by a naturally occurring antifungal compound of soil bacteria, it will destroy selected turf disease pathogens, but leave soil microbes with different protein structures unaffected," he advised. "We see this as a really exciting opportunity to develop new disease control strategies."
Medallion TL is approved for use across all areas of the golf course and managed amenity turf and amenity grassland at the recommended rate of 3.0 l/ha, with up to four applications per year.
Dr Watson advises Medallion TL should be applied in a water volume of 125 - 500 l/ha. "For optimum results we advocate the use of drift-reducing Syngenta Turf Foliar Nozzles, to ensure good spray retention on the leaf and deliver effective results in the thatch. Our application trials have shown using lower water volumes will maximise sprayer efficiency and optimise spray timing, as well as delivering better spray retention in the target area." Medallion TL will be supplied in the unique Syngenta S-pac for easy handling and efficient rinsing and recycling.
Medallion TL will have an essential role in maintaining turf quality and player satisfaction, which is paramount with the current financial pressures facing all golf clubs. As one of the trialists in the Medallion TL development programme, Sean Clark, Club Manager and Professional at Royston Golf Club in Hertfordshire, describes the positive comments he received from both members and visitors as: "quite remarkable."
Mr Clark added: "The performance of Medallion TL proved exceptional under testing conditions this year. Despite three weeks of snow, there was no sign of Fusarium six weeks after treatment. The greens are probably in the best condition for many years.
"There is no doubt that the treatment has helped this and, with just one application, it has saved us both time and money. We are always looking at ways of improving playability of our putting surfaces to both our members and guests, and will definitely be using Medallion TL again in the future."
Richard Walton, Business Manager - Turf & Amenity for Everris, sole UK distributors of the product said: "We are extremely excited that Medallion TL has gained approval, because the feedback we've received so far has been incredible. With all our experience within the fungicide market, we have never seen such anticipation for a new fungicide technology."
Medallion TL is available from all Everris distributors. To locate your nearest distributor, please visit www.everris.com.
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